“It’s been really good. It sort of gave me a purpose coz I was coming sort of two days a week as well. It gave me purpose. It sort of broke my week up as well. I don’t know, it’s changed me a lot in a sense I’ve probably got a lot more confidence back, … More Chantal says: “LandWorks has given me motivation and faith in the world…”
“Jarvis brought me to LandWorks. Now, it’s gonna sound quite weird but at first they were like how about you go LandWorks, you try this, you try that … I was like nah, f*** it, that ain’t for me because it was like woodwork, gardening, pottery, I was like no, I don’t like getting dirty, … More Jax says: “LandWorks is doing something right. It’s gave me a new purpose…”
“I was having a panic attack when I got here the first time ‘coz I’m anaemic and stuff […] My probation officer brought me here. I thought it was a bit of a weird setting. I think everyone was in yoga, so it was nice that everyone wasn’t about. I think it would’ve been way … More Chantal says: “It’s really like what you call therapeutic. When you’re making stuff you’re not thinking about stuff.”
“I still go back and forward. I still have days where I completely shut down, but I’m much more withheld now, like drawn back if I get into those episodes. I don’t talk to anyone, and I don’t … whereas before it was more like a cry out for help, whereas now it’s not, now … More Deer says: “a lot of people say to me that I’m a creative person and recognise the effort I put into my work, and it makes me wanna do stuff outside of LandWorks and be creative…”
The first time I came to have a look around and meeting everyone and seeing everything, I just instantly was like this is what I want to do. Like I instantly knew. I just feel safe here and I find it hard to trust people, especially people like in authority or whatever, but I instantly … More Deer says: “seeing that a lot of people who work here used to be like us, it’s a symbol of hope…”
“I like being active and doing stuff, like woodwork and stuff, which being at LandWorks has helped me do. I just like being active and doing things. When I’m doing things, I don’t get myself into trouble with the police and stuff. So, I think it’s quite good for me to keep myself busy and … More Josh says: “I’ve learnt, if I make a mistake, it’s easily rectified and if it’s not easily rectified, just start again…”
“Since I’ve been here, because I’m a qualified gardener, I’ve got a City & Guilds, I started off … I did a couple of days in the garden. Then because I was interested in art, Chris suggested I go and try some stuff with Sarah. I went in there and I did a little … More Jake says: “It’s not like I come here, and I’m being punished. I’m coming out and I’m learning something new…”
“I’m going home as you know, I’m going home at the weekend and I’m out in about six weeks. And as great as that is, and it is great, it’s fantastic, but it brings a whole new set of fears that I didn’t know about, that no-one tells you about. You just think you’re going … More Quentin says: “I never want prison to be normal…”
“I was brave enough to get out of an abusive relationship and then just so fortunate to have been pointed towards this project. It’s just been miraculous. The support network and everything is so positive, instead of putting you down and being badged as this or that. It’s great I’m out and the fact I … More Helen says: “I want to move forward and being here makes me feel positive in moving forward all the time..”
“I’ve been getting into the pottery a lot more, with a vengeance if I’m honest, to the point that I am going to do this when I get home, 100%. Before I was like “don’t be a dick”, but now I’m like “why can’t I?”. I would never had got that if I … More Quentin says: “LandWorks, is my little haven. It’s my little island in a sea of crap…”
A window into LandWorks 